Type 1 Diabetes mellitus occurs when the body stops producing Insulin or only makes small amounts, also known as Insulin deficiency; this is because the Beta Cells of the pancreatic islets have been destroyed, possibly by the patient's own immune system, maybe due to a virus or other infection, and so the pancreas is no longer able to produce much, if any, Insulin; this leads to increased blood glucose levels, which in turn can cause serious damage to all organ systems in the body.

Insulin is the key that unlocks the door to the body’s cells and once the door is unlocked glucose can enter the cells where it is used as fuel; if the Beta Cells have been destroyed the body is unable to produce any Insulin, so there is no key to unlock the door and the glucose builds up in the blood.

Type 1 Diabetes, once called Juvenile Diabetes, or insulin dependent diabetes, is usually found in children, teenagers, or young adults; it can develop at any age but usually appears before the age of 40 and especially in childhood; Type 1 Diabetes accounts for between (5 and 15) % all people with Diabetes and it affects about 1% of the UK population of children and adolescents; these Diabetics are treated with a combination of daily Insulin injections, a healthy diet and regular physical activity.

Diabetes Medication:

Along with meal planning and physical activity, all Type 1 Diabetics will require Insulin and many have to take other forms of Diabetes Medication as well; diabetes pills help people to keep their blood glucose levels on target; several kinds of pills are available and each works in a different way; many people take two or three kinds of pills and some people take combination pills, which contain two kinds of diabetes medicine in one tablet.

Diabetes Related Information Leaflets